Just Jeff

Don't feel bad. I felt upset when I got rejected from my school too, but it turned out okay. I just got into another great school today. Your only biggest competition in life is yourself.

I went to NYU for my Master's in Philosophy and Lit Studies, but I was a commuter living in Delware with my uncle I did really well in grad school. I got a 3.9 GPA, but I feel like my professors were always so busy or nonchalant. To be honest, every time I would email them to make an appointment, THEY WOULD NEVER RESPOND! It's an inside joke here at NYU that if someone emailed a professor with a question, they would respond six months after the semester was over. I'm graduating next month, and as you might know, I deferred my PhD admission to Temple because it was unfunded. I'd like to go to a competitive school with funding (hopefully), but I need to strengthen my application. One of my weakenesses is probably the LOR. Should I take classes at NYU in the fall to meet more professors, do well in their class, and establish relationships?

No offense man, but aren't you that angry dude from that chatroom?

That's a good idea. I did call NYU, and I'm just waiting to hear back on how I can improve my application.

That's definitely a good idea.

I have no idea. I am super bummed about it. I don't think I've ever been this depressed before. But I overheard one of the professors saying that NYU rarely accepts its MA students into the PhD program. I did an independent research paper in college, but I don't think that's enough. I would like to gain more research experience, but I'm not sure where to start. I actually also want to get my MA thesis on Homer published, but I don't know where to go. I feel so lost...

Hey, all. So, I got into Temple's PhD program in Philosophical Studies with no funding. I actually asked them if I could defer my admission for a year, and they said I had that option. I'm a grad student at NYU getting my MA in Philosophy and Lit. I'm graduating in two weeks. Sadly, I didn't get into any other PhD programs, and I feel that it's a bit silly to pay for a PhD. My adviser told me it would be best to defer admission and reapply in the fall. So, what should my plan be to enhance my application? Here are my stats: Undergraduate GPA at Rutgers: 3.751 Graduate GPA at NYU: 3.90 GRE Verbal: 155 GRE Analytical: 5.0 GRE Quantitative: 144 Yeah, my GRE scores suck. I'm planning to try Magoosh and retake the test this August. But here's another thing: I read somewhere on this forum that it would be beneficial to take summer courses at Columbia or U. Penn to meet new professors and somehow establish strong relationships with them. But I'm a bit skeptical on that. What should my next steps be?

I've heard some pretty good things about Magoosh. It's at your own pace and the prices aren't as astronomical as those of Kaplan and Princeton Review. Check it out: www.magoosh.com

Thanks, everybody.

Thank you so much. Gotta have self-confidence now!